Force cup for cleaning drain pipes and the like



' Aug. 26, 1952 sco'r'T 2,607,927

' FORCE CUP FOR CLEANING DRAIN PIPES AND THE LIKE I Filed June .17; 1949 fen L 300/) attorneys Patented Aug. 26, 1952 7 4 UNITED. sT-AT FORCE our FOR CLEANING DRAIN PIPES AND THELIKET Eben L. Scott, Mission, Kans'.

Application J une 17, 1949, Serial No. 99,614

This invention relates to a force out for cleaning drain pipes, and covers an invention disclosed'but not claimed-in my application, Serial No. 591,455, filed May 2, 1945, matured as Patent No. 2,473,452, dated June 14, 1949.

The most common device for cleaning drain pipes is a rubber force or vacuum cup that is placed over the inlet of the drain and manipulated by a handle to exert alternate pressure and suction forces on' the obstruction. Such cups are usually made relatively thick to provide the'desired action and the rubber soon breaks under the constantly reversing flexure of the [wall of the cup when the device is in use.

It is therefore a principal object of the pres- "ent invention to provide a force cup of this char acter with a reinforcing member to accomplish better'action and longer life of'the cup element.

v It is 'also an'object of the invention to pro- Vide for ready replacement of the cup element within the reinforcing member when the cup element becomes worn with use. v In'accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved. structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawingwherein:

Fig.;1"is'a'perspective view of a pipe cleaning device embodying 'thefeatures of the present invention. Y

'Fig. 2 is a similar view'but showing the eleunents' of the device in spaced relation with apart of the cupwall broken away to better show the'shape of the rim thereof. I

Fig. '3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view to better illustrate the latch for connecting the rim'of the cup element with the reenforcing member.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of connection between the rim portion of the cup element and .the reenforcing member.

Fig. 51s a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a pipe cleaning device embodying the features of the present invention, and which includes a substantially hemispherical force and suction cup 2, formed of! relatively soft'resilient material such as rubber and having a rim-3 adapted for sealing contact circumferentially f a drain opening. The cup 2 has a socket portion v i projecting from the convex side to receivejthe' end 5 of a.,rod-like handle 6.

In order to reenforce the cup, it is enclosed within a cage-like member 1 including a split band 8 encircling the socket portion 4 of the openings 20 of the-tabs.

9 Claims. (Cl. 4-255) cup and having ears 9 and In at the ends thereof to pass a-fastening device such as abolt lLto draw the ears together and contract-theband about the socket for assuring anchorage of-..the cup on the handle. The clamping band -8 has outwardly and downwardly extending fingers l2 formed of resilient material and which-tare connected at the ends by a band l3 adapted ,to be received within an annular groove. opening upwardly within the rim 3 which. encircles the hemispherical wall portion ISLoftheCcuD. The ends ofthe -fingers [2 maybe attached to the respective'bands in any-suitable manner, as for example by spot welding, as. indicatedv at IB'and-I'IFig. 2. t I. 1.3- The rim of the cup-3 is anchored to the band 13 for preventing displacement-thereof from-the groove I4. The fastening means includes tabportions' l 8 registering withthe respectivefingers l2 of the cage-like reenforcing .membenan'd having sleeve" portions [9 arranged transversely with respect to'thefingers i2. and: having axial openings 20 therethrough for passingthe. hook end'Zl of latches 22. -Thelatches22.have. shank portions "23 that terminate in eyes. 24 which are pivotally connected with the fingers l2vby. fastene ing devices such'as rivets or thelike 25. wEasten ing devices 25 have heads 26 to engage. the outer sides of the eyes 24 as shown in Fig. 3. 1 The handle may be provided with a'longitudinal passageway or channel 21 as. disclosed in the above mentioned patent to pass a tape '28 which operates through the cup to manipulate a spoon or a spear element 29 (Fig. .2) to co,-

operate with the cup in dislodg n an obstruc- 7 tion when the cup-ism use... v In as semblingthe cup and, the reenforcing member, the band I3 is passed overthe. socket portion of thecup to seat within -the groove I4, care being taken to register the-fingers. l2 with the "tab portions I8; The latches 22are then swung on 'theirpivotalmountings 25 to engage the hook ends 2! thereof within "theaxial The handle 6 is then .appliedin the socket portion 4 ofthe cup Land the band 8 is contracted upon tightenin'g of the bolt ll so as tofirmly connect the cup with .the

-hand1e.-

In using thedevice constructed and assembled as described-for cleaninga drain of an obstruc- ..tion the spoon or spear29 is withdrawn'intojthe cup as disclosed in. the above. mentioned application, and the-cup 2'is placed over,;the, drain so that the spear or cup end ofthetape.

m be projected therethrough. Pressure isap'plied to the cup 2 through the handle 6 to effect alterhate collapse and expansion thereof for producing alternate suction and pressure on the obstruction while it is being acted upon by the .spear element 29 of the tape to expedite disengagement of the obstruction. When the cup element is in operation, the reenforcing element 1 flexes to provide the desired action, and the resiliency in the fingers I2 assists-in restoring the cup to its original shape.

It is also obvious that the cage-like reenforcing member provides sufiicient backing to reenforce and prevent rapid wearing out of the cup due to the reverse flexing movement thereof when the device is in use. should become worn or cracked after considerable use, the latches 22 are disengaged from the tabs 18. The nut on the bolt 1 l is then loosened to permit withdrawal of the cup from the handle 6 and to allow disengagement of the band 8 from the socketportion 4 of the cup. The reenforcing, member 1 may then be withdrawn from the cup and a new cup placed therein as above described. I The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and difiers from that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 only in the method of attaching the rim of the cup to the cage-like reenforcing member. In this form the band portion i3, which engages in the groove 14 of the cup rim 3, is provided with rivet-like studs 30 that are arranged in spaced circumferential relation and are adapted to project through openings 3| of the flange 32 of the cup, The studs 30 have ball-like heads 33 which effect stretching of the openings 3| when the heads 33 are passed therethrough and engage theouter. face of the cup rim when the material contracts about the studs 30 as shown in Fig. 5. In assembling this form 'of the invention, the reenforcing member is passed over the cup ,as previously described with the band portion J3 thereof entering the recess l4'in which position. the heads of the studs may be pushed 'throughthe openings, 3|. I

From. the. foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a force cup with a reenforcement which controls the action. of the cup and provides for longer lifeof the cup. When the cup does become worn or cracked it is readily removed and replaced with a new. cup.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ,1. Aodevice of the character described including a resilient cup having a coaxial socket-like projection for securing a handle and having an annular rim, a reenforcement member including a band encircling said projection, an annular band engaging said rim, and resilient members interconnecting said bands. I v a I 2. A device. of the character described including a resilient cup provided with a coaxial socketlike projection and having an annular rim, a reenforcement member including a band encircling said projection, an annular band engaging said rim, and resilient members interconnecting said bands, said members having a shape corresponding to the cup.

' 3. A device of the character described including a resilient cup havinga coaxial socket portion extending therefrom and having an annular rim, a reenforcement. member including a band encircling the socket portion, an, annular band 'engaging vsaidgrim, resilient members interconnecting said bands, and latch means for anchoring .the last named band in engagement with saidrim.

In case the cup 4. A device of the character described including a resilient cup having a coaxial socket portion: extending therefrom and having an annular rim' in engagement with said rim.

5. A device of the character described including a resilient cup having a coaxial socket portion extending therefrom and having an annular rim provided with an annular recess and having tabs on outer sides of said recess, a reenforcement member including a contractable band encircling the socket portion, an annular band engaging in said recess, resilient means connecting the bands, latch means pivotally connected with the band connecting means and having hooks engaging in apertures of said tabs. 7 I

6. A device of the character described including a resilient cup having a coaxial socketportion extending therefrom and having an annular rim provided with an annular recess, reenforcement means for said cup including a contractable band encircling the socket portion, an annular band engaging in said recess, and resilient members interconnecting said bands.

'7. A device of the character described including a resilient cup having a coaxial socket portion extending therefrom and having a rim provided with an annular recess, a reenforcement means for said cup including a contractable band encircling the socket portion, an annular band engaging in said recess, resilient member connect,- ing with said bands, and latch means foran- ,choring the last named band in said recess;

8. A device of the-character described including a resilient cup having a coaxial socket portion and an annular rim provided with an opening.

recess opening in the direction of the socket portion, a reenforcement member including a band encircling the socket portion, an annular band,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

1,013,175 Jones Jan. 2, 1912 1,936,389 Hallquist NOV. 21, 1933 2,056,957 Colbridge Oct.'13, 1936 2,079,346 Golden May 4, 1937 2,203,185 Walus June 4, 1940 2,463,458 1 Freyn Mar. 1 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain 1911 

